Santoro, Gitschier differ on probe at GL Tech

TYNGSBORO -- The chairman of Greater Lowell Technical High School and a committee member disagree over the current status of the investigation into the allegations of gender harassment made by the superintendent against a committee member.

Chairman Victor Olson said at Thursday night's School Committee meeting that Erik Gitschier, through his attorney, had not responded to a request to enter into third-party mediation with Superintendent-Director Mary Jo Santoro over her allegations at an October School Committee meeting that Gitschier was harassing her because she is a woman.

Gitschier, of Lowell, shared a copy of a letter with The Sun sent by his attorney Gary Brackett, of Worcester-based Brackett & Lucas, dated Jan.

"My client is willing to consent to participate in mediation to address the issues related to the allegations of gender harassment," Brackett wrote to the School Committee's attorney Michael Long.

The letter goes on the say that Brackett and Gitschier request that Santoro put the allegations she is making against Gitschier in writing in accordance with the school district's policy, so that they may review it before proceeding.

Gitschier said without the allegations in writing, he does not know what the two parties would be mediating over.

Olson, of Dracut, says as long as Gitschier and his attorney have put stipulations on going into mediation, there has been no agreement between the parties to go into mediation.

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Gitschier said the school district's policies require a harassment complaint to be put in writing.

Under the school district's policy a grievance may be made verbally, but an "appropriate facilitator" would record the complaint in writing and submit a copy to the complaint officer, usually the Title IX coordinator, who will then submit a copy to the charged person immediately and request a response within 10 days.

The complaint officer would then attempt an informal resolution. If no resolution was reached, it would then move on to a formal complaint.

Any records of the grievance and response and a detailed report of the informal resolution would be kept confidential, according to the district's policy.

In November, a month after Santoro accused Gitschier of harassment at a public meeting, Fred Bahou, of Lowell, requested the formal complaint be made public because Santoro had made her complaints of harassment at a public meeting.

Long had advised the committee the motion was out of order and was reluctant to provide details about the ongoing investigation.

The motion was withdrawn.

So far, four months after Santoro made her public statements of harassment, Gitschier hasn't received anything in writing.

Brackett said he and Gitschier previously requested a written statement of the allegations, but had not received one.

Brackett said he believes a written statement has been prepared.

Olson said he's never heard of someone presenting a written statement before entering into mediation.

"Typically when you go into mediation there isn't a written document," said Olson. "I've never heard of someone presenting written stuff going in prior."

Olson said he might write down some generalities, but wouldn't give a detailed list.

After Santoro's public statements that she felt Gitschier was harassing her, Olson requested the school district's attorney and director of human resources lead an informal investigation into Santoro's claims.

The director of human resources recused herself from the investigation, The Sun has learned, because of a potential conflict as Santoro is her direct supervisor.

Gitschier and Santoro obtained their own legal counsel. Santoro is being represented by Howard Lenow, of Wayland-based Lenow & McCarthy.

Although Long is the School Committee's attorney, Gitschier chose to obtain his own legal counsel because he has been critical of the relationship between Santoro and the attorneys at Long & DiPietro, saying about a year ago the relationship was "too close."

The School Committee's attorney Michael Long will not be involved in the mediation process.

Brackett said the two parties will agree on a third-party mediator and Santoro and Gitschier will sit down with that person and their attorneys.

The update Olson gave Thursday night on the status of Santoro's gender harassment claim was at the request of Vice-chair George O'Hare, of Lowell.

Under "old business" O'Hare asked about any outstanding "legal activities" against the School Committee.

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